Christ Suffered and Died . . .
For The Forgiveness of Our Sins
In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses.
Ephesians 1:7
This is My blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:28
When we forgive a debt or an offense or an injury, we don’t require a payment for settlement. Forgiveness assumes grace. If I am injured by you, grace lets it go. I don’t sue you. I forgive you. Grace gives what someone doesn’t deserve. That’s why forgiveness has the word 'give' in it. Forgiveness is not “getting” even. It is giving away the right to get even.
That's how God treats us when we trust Christ: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43). If we believe in Christ, God no longer holds our sins against us. This is God’s own testimony in the Bible: “I, I am He who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake” (Isaiah 43:25). “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
But this raises a problem. We all know that forgiveness is not enough. We may only see it clearly when the injury is great—like murder or rape. Neither society nor the universe can hold together if judges (or God) simply say to every murderer and rapist, “Are you sorry? Okay. The state forgives you. You may go.” In cases like these we see that while a victim may have a forgiving spirit, the state cannot forsake justice. So it is with God’s justice. All sin is serious, because it is against God. His glory is injured when we ignore or disobey or blaspheme Him. God's justice will no more allow Him simply to set us free than a human judge can cancel all the debts that criminals owe to society. The injury done to God’s glory by our sin needs to be repaired so that in justice His glory shines more brightly. And if we criminals are to go free and be forgiven, then there must be some dramatic demonstration that satisfies the punishment due for the criminals.
That is why Christ suffered and died. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Ephesians 1:7). Forgiveness cost God everything. Jesus Himself has borne the penalty of our sins - absorbing the wrath of God in order to satisfy His justice. The result of Christ obedience has ensured that our sins have been forgiven!
Oh, how precious is the news that God does not hold our sins against us! And how beautiful is Christ, whose blood made it right for God to do this.
Lets pray:
"Dear Father, thank You for forgiving my every sin. You made Jesus take my punishment and satisfy the just demands of punishing my sin. I thank You Jesus for bearing that punishment. Without Your sacrifice, I would have had no hope for salvation. Thank You for Your love for me. All I want to do is love You with all my heart, soul and mind. Please help me to walk with You all the days of my life. In Jesus Name. Amen."
Lets worship: with the song ' I'm forgiven because You were forsaken' by Chris Tomlin
The so-far mentioned reasons for why Christ suffered and died can be followed at http://knowing-christ.
8) To become a ransom for many
7) To cancel the legal demands of the law against us
6) To show His own love for us
5) To show Grace for sinners
4) To achieve His own resurrection from the dead
3) To learn obedience and be perfected
2) To please His own Heavenly Father
1) To absorb the wrath of God
Be blessed,
Meghna and Ashish
(inspired by 'Fifty reasons why He came to die' by author John Piper)
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